ABC News
Pa. Student Suspended for Three Days for Sharing Caffeinated Gum at School
LOWER BURRELL, Pennsylvania May 26, 2006 (AP)&emdash; Chew on this. A junior high school student was suspended for three days for sharing chewing gum because it contains caffeine, school officials said.
The girl, whose age and grade were not released, gave another student Jolt gum. The gum is "a stimulant that has no other redeeming quality," said Burrell School District Superintendent Amy Palermo.
Products acting as a stimulant are prohibited and possessing them is grounds for disciplinary action, Palermo said.
The suspension was mainly based on the girl's decision to share the gum with another student, she said.
"What if the gum had been given to a student with a heart condition? As a parent, would you want your child to be able to get that type of product?" Palermo said Thursday.
The school has soda machines, but they are not turned during school hours and drinks containing caffeine are not sold in the lunchroom.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.